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COVID adjournment request denied as ‘delay tactic’

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WAUKESHA, Wis. – Darrell Brooks requested an adjournment of his trial in the Waukesha Christmas parade attack Wednesday, Oct. 5, telling the court he believes he has COVID and needs to wait until at least Friday for test results to come back. Prosecutors said he’s heard on jail phone calls telling his mother he’s going to delay the trial. The judge agreed with the prosecution, calling Brooks’ COVID adjournment request “nothing more than a delay tactic.”

Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow scheduled Wednesday afternoon’s hearing to handle final housekeeping issues before the start of the Brooks trial. Opening statements are set for Thursday morning. 

An hour in, none of the housekeeping issues had been addressed.

During his court appearance Wednesday afternoon, back in his jail attire because the jury was not present, Brooks sought an adjournment due to the Waukesha County Jail’s COVID-19 protocol. 

“I’ve had people close to me who have passed away from COVID – I’m frightened,” Brooks told the court. In denying Brooks’ motion to adjourn, the judge said if he was truly concerned about his health and safety, he would take the COVID rapid test he was offered and refused. 

Judge Dorow said she offered him the opportunity to wear a suit and tie, as he did Monday and Tuesday, but he declined.

As for the COVID adjournment request, the judge said she did not have any information regarding the COVID-19 protocol and that the jail had not provided her with specifics. Brooks told the judge he is fully vaccinated, but that he lost taste and was fatigued. He said he reported the loss of taste to the jail Tuesday night but said he’d been feeling bad “for a few days.” Brooks added he was seen by jail nurses and not allowed out of his cell until test results come back, which he said would not be until Friday. Brooks insisted the court had this information. Dorow said she had no other information on his COVID status, citing HIPAA.

The judge reiterated that Brooks would have to verify his status within the protocol himself.

Asked if he objected to the judge asking the jail administrator, Brooks said, “Absolutely not.” Administrator Angela Wollenhaupt, who oversees staff and inmate issues at the jail, took the witness stand. Wollenhaupt noted that she had not reviewed Brooks’ medical record before coming to court, and he had not signed a release to speak to the court about it. 

She said if in COVID protocol, Brooks would remain in his current cell and have access to a conference room and phone. She said they would be able to “safely produce him for court.”

She added that Brooks made statements that prompted the medical department to follow up, and a COVID test was administered.

Darrell Brooks COVID adjournment request

Brooks refused to take a rapid test, seeking to delay the trial until Friday when his test results come back.

“Why would I need to take two tests for the same thing?” said Brooks. “If I’m taking a COVID test, why would I need to take another one?”

He later followed up with, “I still don’t have clarity on that, your Honor. I’m baffled.”

When asked if Brooks’ discovery materials were in his cell, the jail administrator said yes, and Brooks tried to object. Dorow said he was not able to testify and overruled his objection, giving him a final warning. After almost an hour Wednesday afternoon, Brooks was moved to the courtroom next door because of increased outbursts. Dorow said there were 10 interruptions. 

Darrell Brooks objects from the courtroom next door.

The judge pointed out Brooks is not within six feet of anyone else in the courtroom. Brooks dropped his head and shook it while sighing. 

Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper said she believes Brooks’ adjournment request is a delay tactic. Opper said Brooks is heard in recorded jail phone calls telling his mother he plans to delay the trial.  

Opper added that even if Brooks was on COVID protocol, it would have zero impact on his ability to prepare for the case, noting he has all necessary materials in his cell. 

Brooks asked why the recorded phone calls couldn’t be brought into court through a sworn affidavit. “How can that be a delay tactic?” he asked.

The defendant and the judge then began speaking over each other, with Dorow reminding Brooks he needed to abide by the court standards of conduct and Brooks again saying he did not recognize the name placed on the complaint against him. “That’s not who I am,” he told the court.

Before 4 p.m., Dorow denied Brooks’ request for a COVID adjournment. 

Around 4 p.m., Dorow offered Brooks the opportunity to return to the main courtroom. Brooks said he never agreed to move to the adjacent courtroom. The judge took that as a refusal and Brooks remained in the other courtroom. 

Brooks noted that he was very tired. The judge noted that the fatigue did not stop Brooks from objecting, interrupting and asking for an appeal. 

Housekeeping matters discussed

As the housekeeping matters got underway, the court discussed whether the state should be allowed to ask Brooks, should he take the stand, about his prior convictions, dating back to 1999. The prosecutor noted 12, including three in Nevada. 

The question would be: “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” The follow-up question would be: “How many times?”

Judge Dorow did not address this Wednesday.  

When asked if he had a question on the use of criminal records, Brooks said he would have a better understanding once he could review things.

The judge said she would rule Thursday on the state’s request to reconsider showing victim witnesses. It was previously allowed, except for minors. 

After 4:30 p.m., Dorow began laying out the procedure for objections in court, noting that if Brooks doesn’t follow civility procedure, he’ll be muted. Dorow said he can use his objection sign and she’ll ask for the basis of his objection. 

“If at any time you object to every question, that is not acceptable,” Judge Dorow said to Brooks, noting statute does not permit harassment.

Dorow and Opper noted the possibility that Brooks could forfeit his right to cross-examine witnesses if he does not act civilly; Opper clarified that the state wants Brooks to be able to cross-examine each witness.

Brooks said he didn’t understand, and Dorow said she could not explain the law to him. She stressed that she explained the pros and cons of representing himself, and she told Brooks he intelligently made a deliberate decision to waive counsel while explaining she could not give him legal advice. 

“You represent yourself at your own peril,” said Judge Dorow.

Brooks again said he didn’t understand, and Dorow said he was veering off-topic, again muting him.

Jury instructions discussed 

The 68-page jury instruction document was discussed, and Dorow said she was adding a page with instructions regarding decorum and courtesy in the courtroom.

“My job includes that making sure Mr. Brooks’s rights are protected…that both sides can present the case in a coherent fashion…and that victims and witnesses are treated fairly,” said Dorow.

The jury instructions state that if Brooks should appear in the adjacent courtroom during the trial, that should not impact the jury’s verdict in any way. 

Brooks said he didn’t accept or consent to the amended jury instructions as the paperwork was placed in front of him by a bailiff. He said he wants to draft a written jury instruction, and Dorow said he could submit that by Thursday morning for her review. 

As jury instructions were discussed, Brooks raised his objection sign and rocked in his chair in the adjacent courtroom. The judge offered to allow Brooks to return to the main courtroom if he would abide by the decorum. 

“So this is how it’s gonna be the whole trial,” said Brooks.

Dorow made a record that Brooks’ behavior was rude, disrespectful and an interference in the orderly administration of justice. 

“I will not tolerate disruptive conduct that, from my perspective, is simply an attempt to delay,” said Dorow. 

Brooks noted he’s describing himself as “pro per” and not “pro see,” as the court sees him in representing himself. He requested that be changed, and Dorow denied it. Brooks continued to push the judge on this issue, and she again muted him, saying she cannot provide legal advice.

When asked if he had any questions on the 69 pages of jury instructions, Brooks asked why the court could not address his to-be written jury instructions Wednesday afternoon. 

Shortly thereafter, Judge Dorow approved the 69-page jury instruction packet. The judge said the instructions would be printed for Brooks to review Wednesday night. She said they would discuss some added language Thursday, along with Brooks’ written instructions, should he submit them. She noted that his written instructions would be statements of law provided to the jury.

When asked if he objected, Brooks said he did, adding that he didn’t understand why changes were being made to the jury instructions at this point. The judge said it’s standard protocol to finalize the jury instructions at this hearing. 

Exhibits discussed 

District Attorney Opper noted the state filed eight pages of 140 exhibits – a combination of videos, photos and documents. She noted the document was provided to Brooks, though he declined to accept it.

Opper said the state has some physical evidence she intends to use later in the trial. She noted some large poster board maps that were prepared. Opper asked specifically about photos and documents and whether they should print a copy for the jury to have later.

The prosecutor asked if all exhibits could be added to one thumb drive and that could be entered into the court record. Brooks held up his objection sign.

The judge wanted all parties to remain at their desk during opening statements. Opper asked if they could move around when Brooks is in the adjacent courtroom, and Dorow said no. She said they can stand up and present, as can Brooks. The judge noted she was taking steps to ensure the jury doesn’t see the restraints around Brooks’ ankles. 

Brooks said most of his exhibits will be paperwork. Dorow said if he has something specific, he should let the state know, so they can make arrangements to assist in displaying it to a witness, if appropriate.

Brooks requests subpoenas

Brooks requested six subpoena forms “as soon as possible” on Tuesday, court filings obtained by FOX6 News show. Twenty-one subpoena forms were delivered to him at the jail Wednesday morning, according to online court records, and Judge Dorow in court said her staff would provide copies, as well.

Also on Wednesday, a crew from Court TV was working to set up a multi-camera system within Judge Dorow’s court to best capture the trial for broadcast. FOX6 News will stream the trial in its entirety on the following platforms: 

16-member jury seated

On Tuesday, the court seated a 16-member jury that includes ten men and six women — all white. The jury selection process was completed around 6:30 p.m. The jury panel was ordered to return at 8:30 a.m. Thursday for opening statements.

Darrell Brooks trial, jury selection, peremptory strike process

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Now that the jury is selected, FOX6 News can tell you the potential jurors were asked more than 100 questions, including: 

  • Do you accept Brooks is innocent until proven guilty?
  • Do you have bias for or against Brooks because of his race?
  • Have you seen, heard or read any news coverage on the case?

Christmas parade attack

Prosecutors say Brooks drove a red SUV through the parade route on Nov. 21, 2021, killing six and injuring more than 60 others. 

On Nov. 21, 2021, according to prosecutors, Brooks met up with his ex-girlfriend in Frame Park, the same woman he is accused of running over with his red SUV earlier in November 2021. She told police they argued in his SUV before he started driving, and he “was driving around with one hand and striking her in the face with his other hand.” She eventually got out and called her friends for help. 

Waukesha parade attack victims identified

Soon after that, according to prosecutors, Brooks drove that red SUV through the parade route, killing Jackson Sparks, 8, Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, Jane Kulich, 52 and Wilhelm Hospel, 81. More than 60 others were hurt. 

Brooks was arrested the night of the attack, soon after telling a Waukesha resident that he was homeless and waiting for an Uber. The man was unaware of the events that had occurred and let Brooks into his home.

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Brooks entered an insanity plea in June after initially pleading not guilty to the charges in February, a move that could have resulted in him being sentenced to a mental institution rather than prison if convicted. He later dropped the insanity plea on Sept. 9. 

Darrell Brooks faces 76 charges, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide and 61 counts of reckless endangerment. Each homicide charge carries a mandatory life sentence.

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Waukesha parade: DA who released suspect ahead of tragedy says it was the result of human error by an overworked staffer

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An assistant prosecutor who was assigned to a domestic violence case against Brooks was handing a jury trial and almost two dozen felony cases when she reviewed Brooks’ most recently posted bail, which was $500, related to a reckless endangerment charge, Chisholm said. The unidentified assistant district attorney, who was overloaded with cases, decided to double the bail amount to $1,000, he added.

The mistake by the assistant district attorney was due to her not having access to a critical risk assessment for Brooks because it had not yet been uploaded to the office’s case management system, he said.

Chisholm, who has been a longtime champion of efforts to reduce mass incarceration by using the discretion afforded to prosecutors, said that higher cash bail should have been recommended for Brooks and the error “set in motion a chain of events that resulted in a tragedy.”

“I put the finger on myself and that’s my obligation, that’s my responsibility,” Chisholm said. He added that his office will employ a process called sentinel event review to learn from the errors in the case through an ongoing practice that examines the causes, successes and failures of an incident.

When he ran for office in 2006, the district attorney committed to a program that seeks to connect individuals charged with low-level offenses to services that matched their assessed risk and divert people determined to be high-risk, such as violent offenders. Chisholm said Thursday that this system was in place when Brooks was released and “should have been followed.”

“There was a public safety assessment that was done that characterized this situation as a high-risk situation. Our default position in this case because of the laws in Wisconsin is that we recommend higher amounts of cash,” he said, in describing what should have happened in Brooks’ case.

Suspect was out on bail for two allegations of violence

Brooks, who is the lone suspect in the Waukesha tragedy, was out on bail for two separate allegations of violence, including using a car to run over a woman while she was walking through a gas station parking lot, according to a criminal complaint. The woman told authorities she was the mother of his child, according to the criminal complaint.

Brooks faced five charges related to the incident, including domestic abuse, and was also charged with bail jumping because he was already out on bail in connection with a separate incident in July 2020, court documents say. In the 2020 incident, Brooks was accused of firing a handgun during an argument and was charged with two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety while using a dangerous weapon and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Bail had initially been set at $10,000 in that case, but because Brooks had asked for a speedy jury trial — which could not be met — bail was reduced to $500. He was then released on bail in that case on February 21, the district attorney’s office said.

Separately, Brooks pleaded guilty in Nevada to statutory sexual seduction in November 2006, according to court records, and is a registered sex offender in that state.

Hours before Brooks drove his SUV through the Waukesha parade, he was involved in a domestic disturbance and left the scene, according to Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson.

Chisholm previously said his office was conducting an “internal review of the decision to make the recent bail recommendation,” related to the domestic violence incident in early November.

DA said his office is ‘overwhelmed’ with cases

Chisholm, who took office in 2007, has said his office should focus on keeping violent people in the system and non-violent people out — an approach notably in line with national “bail reform” efforts.

Bail reform aims to curb or eliminate cash bail for people who are in jail awaiting trial if they are charged with misdemeanors or nonviolent offenses. The purpose is to make the system more equitable for those who cannot afford to pay their bonds.

Law enforcement leaders have targeted bail reform efforts as a contributing factor to the surge in violent crime rates, however, data shows that only a small percentage of defendants released on bail are committing violent crimes.

A 2020 Loyola University Chicago study found that 97% of defendants released pretrial in Cook County were not charged with a new violent offense, based on court data from 2017 to 2019.

“You can’t pin cash bail to the spike in violent crime because, for one thing, cash bail affects mainly low-level non-violent offenders,” Jody Armour, a professor of law at the University of Southern California, told CNN in the summer.

Moving forward, Chisholm said on Thursday, there should be an “honest assessment” of the purpose of bail. The district attorney said he is opposed to cash bail because it “doesn’t do a good job of assessing risk.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t think that some people need to stay in custody until their case is tried. That’s called the preventative detention framework. We have a statute that allows for that, it’s simply unworkable,” he added.

Nationwide, prosecutors have been challenged to navigate a criminal justice system that has been largely disrupted by the pandemic and tasked with mitigating the risk of exposure to Covid-19 that comes with defendants going to court and jail.

Chisholm said during Thursday’s meeting that his office and the system are “overwhelmed” and has lost six assistant district attorneys since 2018, including two in the domestic violence unit, due to a cut in federal funding.

“We generally try about 500 matters to a jury or court trial every year. Because of the pandemic, we’ve had to constrain some of that, and that, in turn, affects other parts of the system,” Chisholm said.

The county’s chief judge, Mary Triggiano, said during the meeting that the county has a backlog of 1,600 felony and 3,100 misdemeanor cases, which is what caused Brooks’ bail to be lowered to $500 earlier this year in relation to the 2020 incident.

Chisholm said while it does not excuse Brooks’ low cash bail, the assistant district attorney assigned to his case did not have ample time to make a decision.

“It puts it in context that when you’re dealing with high-volume triage and trying to sort what the most serious offense is, get the case in the system and move on to the next one, sometimes errors can occur,” he added.

The district attorney’s office previously said in a statement that the state’s bail recommendation in Brooks’ case was “inappropriately low in light of the nature of the recent charges and the pending charges” against him.

“The bail recommendation in this case is not consistent with the approach of the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office toward matters involving violent crime, nor was it consistent with the risk assessment of the defendant prior to the setting of bail,” the office’s statement reads.

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Waukesha will hold a moment of silence Sunday, one week after a man plowed a vehicle through a parade

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The moment of silence will take place at 4:39 p.m. local time, officials said on the city’s website, asking people to attend virtually on the Waukesha Facebook page.

Residents are also encouraged to light a blue light outside their homes at that time, officials said, to be left up throughout the holidays. A limited supply of blue light bulbs are available for those who need them.

More than 60 people, 18 of whom were children, were injured last Sunday, November 21, when a driver plowed an SUV through the city’s Christmas parade in downtown Waukesha. Six people, including an 8-year-old boy, were killed.

As of Saturday afternoon, eight children remained hospitalized at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, according to a hospital news release. Two children had been released since Wednesday.

Four children remain in serious condition, two are in fair condition and two others are in good condition, the release said.

Authorities identified the suspected driver as Darrell E. Brooks, 39, of Milwaukee. Prosecutors have charged him with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide and will consider a sixth homicide charge over the death of the 8-year-old boy, who passed away last Tuesday.

CNN’s Dakin Andone contributed to this report.

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Wisconsin Senators Tammy Baldwin, Ron Johnson ask lawmakers to not politicize Waukesha attack

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Wisconsin’s two US senators came together from across the aisle to call for an end to bipartisan bickering in the wake of the Waukesha Christmas parade attack.

Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D) and Ron Johnson (R) issued a rare joint statement Saturday calling on outside groups and individuals to “cease and desist” using the SUV ambush that killed six people and injured more than five dozen “for their own political purposes.”

The statement didn’t call out any specific outside groups or individuals.

Local officials’ “top priority is to begin the healing process within Waukesha by providing comfort and support to surviving family members of the deceased, and those injured both in body and spirit,” the senators wrote.

“They must also conduct a thorough investigation and afford the accused full due process. These will not be easy tasks, and will be made even more difficult if conducted within a politically charged atmosphere.”

Darrell Brooks, 39, allegedly used his Ford Escape to blow past police barricades and plow into a group of revelers at the Milwaukee-area city’s annual Christmas parade.

Darrell Brooks was charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide after he allegedly drove through a Christmas parade in Wisconsin on Nov. 21, 2021.
Getty Images

The career criminal — who had called for violence against white people and expressed his admiration of Adolf Hitler’s mass murder of Jews — had been released from jail after allegedly running over his girlfriend with the SUV earlier that month.

Days before the statement, Johnson blasted Democrats for rhetoric and policies that led to the massacre, in his opinion.

“When you look the other way, when you almost encourage lawlessness — just like, let’s face it, you have political figures during the summer riots of 2020 encouraging people to donate to the bail fund so you can bail these people out … When you encourage lawlessness, you’re going to get more of it,” Johnson said on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday.

At least six people died and dozens were injured after Brooks plowed his SUV into the parade.
JESUS OCHOA via REUTERS

“It becomes more and more violent. It starts spilling over from crime-ridden, generally Democrat-governed cities into the surrounding areas,” the senator added. “I think that’s probably what we witnessed here in Waukesha.”

His comments were echoed on the program the next day by Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw, who blamed Democratic “funding far-left, radical DAs and prosecutors” for the disaster.

“I’m not that conspiratorial,” the congressman added, “But it is pretty obvious that there’s people like George Soros who are funding these far-left, radical DAs and prosecutors around the country, which means millions of dollars.”

A memorial is placed along Main Street in downtown Waukesha, Wisc.
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A day after the attack, fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia took to Twitter to rhetorically ask if “mainstream media, Democrats, and even the President of the United States” incited the mass murder.

Former President Donald Trump called Brooks a “rough cookie” on Fox News Tuesday, but told host Sean Hannity he took solace in the fact the suspected killer — an aspiring musician who once rapped “f–k Donald Trump” — was not a supporter of his.



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Wisconsin senators warn in rare joint statement outsiders may try to exploit Waukesha tragedy for ‘political purposes’

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“It has come to our attention that outside individuals or groups may attempt to exploit the tragedy that occurred last Sunday in Waukesha for their own political purposes,” the statement said. “As the U.S. Senators representing Wisconsin, one from each political party, we are asking anyone considering such action to cease and desist.”

An 11-year-old who was injured was on a ventilator and fighting for her life. Nearly a week later, her mother shared in a medical update.

Jessalyn Torres is recovering from a broken pelvis, skull fracture and other injuries, according to one of two verified GoFundMe pages created to help the girl’s mother, Amber Kohnke. The young girl “needs more time to heal,” Kohnke said in the update on her daughter’s condition posted Saturday.
Prosecutors believe the driver was Darrell E. Brooks, 39, and they have charged him with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide and will consider a sixth homicide charge over the boy’s death.

The senators’ statement did not provide details about why they issued the warning, but said they both have “full confidence in the local officials who responded with extraordinary professionalism, competence, integrity and compassion.”

“They have many difficult duties to perform in the coming days, weeks, and months, and they should be afforded the respect and support they deserve to undertake their responsibilities without outside interference,” the senators’ statement said.

They added officials’ top priorities now are to “begin the healing process” and conduct a “thorough investigation and afford the accused full due process.”

“These will not be easy tasks, and will be made even more difficult if conducted within a politically charged atmosphere,” the statement said. “We ask everyone to demonstrate their interest and concern by praying for the victims, their families, and the entire community of Waukesha.”

CNN’s Melissa Alonso contributed to this report.

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Husband of Waukesha parade crash victim learned of her cancer diagnosis after she died: “Maybe God took her so she didn’t have to suffer”

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Days after the deadly Waukesha parade crash, the husband of one of the women killed learned from a medical examiner that she had previously undiagnosed uterine cancer. 

“I was happy to hear that I could at least give my children the thought that maybe a lot of suffering was avoided,” John Kulich told “CBS Mornings” lead national correspondent David Begnaud. “At least give my children the thought that, well, maybe God took her so she didn’t have to suffer. And if I could just leave them with that.”  

His wife, Jane, was one of the six people killed when 39-year-old Darrell Brooks plowed his SUV into the crowd on Sunday. She was 52 years old.

Kulich remembered his wife as “a beautiful person.”

“Not only to us, but to everyone she met,” he said. “I never heard a bad word about her. Everyone who met her always loved her.”

Kulich said Jane was an organ donor and that he hoped knowing her organs could help someone else would provide his children with solace. “I’m just trying to let them see the bright side because I know that’s what Jane would want,” he said.  

“She had an interesting view on things and that everything was for a reason,” Kulich said. “That was something she said constantly when anything bad would happen: ‘Well, things happen for a reason’ and we never know what the reason is. And so when I heard [the cancer diagnosis], I wanted to say, well maybe this is the reason. I don’t know. But I’d like to think that.” 

Kulich said his last day with Jane began at church listening to a sermon about great couples of the world and how they are better together.

“So I pulled her close and started rubbing her arm and she started rubbing my knee. She knew what I meant, and we knew that that was a word from God for us,” he said.

Roughly six hours later, Jane was at the parade with colleagues from the bank where she worked when she was run down.

“Her whole world was her family. And she was good at it, really good at it. She was the rock that held us together, the stable force,” Kulich said.

She was a grandmother of three and a mother of three. 

“The one thing I can say about her that I can’t say about anybody else is that I’ve never heard her say a bad word even about the people she doesn’t like,” her son, Jacob, said.

John Kulich is now preparing to bury his bride of 22 years.

“We were a team. That was my partner. I don’t know if I’m, I’m not capable of doing all this by myself,” he said. “I needed her. I’ve always needed her and they need her, too.”

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Wisconsin parade news – latest: Darrell Brooks ‘wanted to hit as many people as possible’ in Waukesha attack

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Darrell Brooks appears in court following Wisconsin parade attack

Darrell Brooks was trying to strike “as many people as possible” when he raced his car through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday, authorities said in a criminal complaint.

The complaint filed on Tuesday describes Mr Brooks as having “no emotion” when he drove down the parade route, killing six people and wounding at least 47 others. Moments earlier, he was said to have fled from police responding to a call about a domestic dispute between him and another person.

Prosecutors plan to charge the 39-year-old with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide. He is being held on $5m bail.

More than $1.5m has been raised to support victims of the attack and their families. The six people killed are: Tamara Durand, Jane Kulich, Wilhelm Hospel, Leanna Owen, Virginia “Ginny” Sorenson, and Jackson Sparks.

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Brooks ‘polite’ to man who let him into his house

Daniel Rider let Darrell Brooks into his house to warm himself up before letting Brooks use the phone to call an Uber.

According to Mr Rider, he was unaware about the tragedy which had unfolded in Waukesha, Wisconsin, leaving six dead and more than 40 injured.

Describing his interaction with Brooks, Mr Rider said that he was “polite” to him the entire time he was at his home.

Mr Rider explained: “He even thanked me and said, ‘Thank you for showing me so much love here, man. Appreciate you warming me up,” reported The Sun.

However, Mr Rider went on to explain that Mr Brooks became increasingly aggressive, pounding on his door and asking to be let back in as he had apparently forgotten his ID.

Eleanor Sly25 November 2021 09:21

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People gather at Waukesha memorial to remember victims

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

Eleanor Sly25 November 2021 08:50

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Darrell Brooks had a history of domestic violence we should have taken seriously

Darrell Brooks — the man charged with driving his Ford SUV into a Christmas parade in Wisconsin with no clear motivation and killed six people — had a documented history of domestic violence.

He was a registered sex offender and, according to court documents, was out on bond for charges related to domestic abuse when the Waukesha tragedy happened.

He allegedly ran over a woman who says she is the mother of his child with his car.

Writes Kathleen N. Walsh:

Eleanor Sly25 November 2021 08:25

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Brooks bail fundraiser removed from GoFundMe

The crowdfunding platform, GoFundMe, has removed a fundraiser which was created for Darrell Brooks in an effort to raise the $5 million required for his bail.

The fundraiser was removed from the platform because it violated the GoFundMe terms of service, FOX Business reported.

According to FOX Business a spokesperson for GoFundMe said: “Fundraisers with misuse are very rare, and we take all complaints very seriously. Our team works with law enforcement to report issues and assists them in any investigations they deem necessary.”

Eleanor Sly25 November 2021 08:03

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Brooks had previously run over a woman at start of November

Darrell Brooks, the man accused of driving his SUV into a Wisconsin Christmas parade was a registered sex offender in Nevada.

As well as this, he had an active arrest warrant in that state, according to court records.

Court documents revealed that he allegedly ran over a woman who said that she is the mother of his child, earlier this month.

On 2nd November, Brookes is said to have run over the woman in his car whilst she was walking through the car park of a gas station.

The woman told authorities that she was the mother of his child, according to a criminal complaint.

Eleanor Sly25 November 2021 07:44

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Rockford beefs up security, shuts down roads for parade

In the wake of the deadly incident, officials in Rockford are beefing up their security for the Stroll on State parade, which will be held this Saturday.

There will be more barricades placed at the perimeter of the event to keep any unauthorized vehicles from getting onto the parade route and festival grounds.

Authorities in Rockford will shut down Chestnut Street west of the Rock River and Walnut Street east of the river for vehicular traffic from 10.30 am until 9 pm on Saturday. An emergency lane will be created by security barricades between Church and North Second streets.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 November 2021 06:48

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Three injured children go home from hospital as 10 remain under care of doctors

ICYMI: Three children injured in the Wisconsin Christmas parade attack will be at home for Thanksgiving after being released from hospital.

That leaves 10 children still in hospital care, with five in critical condition, two in fair condition and three in good condition, according to to Children’s Wisconsin hospital.

“We are thankful to share that three more kids injured on Sunday at the Waukesha parade will be home for Thanksgiving, where they will continue their recovery,” hospital officials said on twitter.

Graeme Massie25 November 2021 04:57

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Dawn Woods, the mother of Darrell Brooks, regrets bailing him out of jail

Dawn Woods, the mother of Darrell Brooks, is regretting bailing him out of jail just a few days prior to the incident. Mr Brooks’ mother had posted a $1,000 bond for her son after he was accused of domestic violence and intentionally striking his former girlfriend with his car on 2 November.

“She’s wrecked that people were killed as a result and she’s like, ‘I’m blaming myself, because had I not bailed him out, this wouldn’t have happened’,” the former girlfriend, who shares a child with Mr Brooks, told The Post.

The woman said she had very little contact with the accused in the last 20 years. “He disappeared when my son was almost 3 months old. I’ve done all of this on my own, raised my child by myself,” she said.

She added their son has not interacted with his father since he was a baby.

“When I saw his picture online, I was like, ‘What the f***? I was embarrassed enough to have him as the father of my child beforehand, because he wasn’t taking care of him. What do you think I am now? Mortified,” the woman added.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 November 2021 04:53

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City officials add extra precautions to Thanksgiving parades

ICYMI: Authorities in cities across the US are taking extra measures to ensure the safety of crowds at the city’s Thanksgiving Day parade in light of the events in Waukesha.

Detroit, Michigan; Waco, Texas; and Knoxville, Tennessee, are among the cities reviewing their safety plans, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Meanwhile, several towns across Wisconsin have cancelled upcoming holiday parades in the wake of Waukesha’s deadly attack.

Graeme Massie25 November 2021 03:56

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Kathleen N. Walsh: We should have taken Brooks’ history seriously

ICYMI: In the wake of Mr Brooks arrest over Sunday’s Christmas parade attack, a slew of information emerged about his lengthy criminal past.

A registered sex offender, Mr Brooks has a serious of previous charges for domestic violence, including for allegedly trying to run the mother of his child over with his car on 5 November.

The Independent’s Kathleen N. Walsh writes: “To me, that is not surprising. What is surprising — or at least galling — is that we still do not take violence against women seriously when the correlation between domestic abuse and other violent crime seems so clear. That means that ultimately, everybody else is less safe.

“If the allegations against Brooks — that he had already used a vehicle to attempt to seriously injure a woman he’d been formerly in a relationship with — were considered more seriously, then perhaps five families wouldn’t be mourning the deaths of their loved ones today.”

Graeme Massie25 November 2021 03:11

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Waukesha parade crash suspect appeared to have no emotion as officers tried to stop him, authorities say

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At least six people were killed and another 62 were injured in the ensuing crash, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Waukesha County Circuit Court. The youngest victim who died was only 8 years old, according to his family’s GoFundMe. More than a dozen people remain hospitalized at a nearby children’s hospital, and three were released Tuesday, according to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
Darrell E. Brooks, 39, was later apprehended by police and officially charged Tuesday with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, according to the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said they will consider an additional homicide charge following the death of a sixth person on Tuesday from sustained injuries.

One officer, identified in the complaint as Detective Casey, first heard a horn honking near his location along the parade route. As Casey went to investigate, he saw a red Ford Escape SUV driving past parade participants and “observed people jumping out of the way,” according to the complaint.

The SUV was moving at a slow speed at the time, the complaint said, and Casey pounded on the hood of the vehicle while yelling “Stop” multiple times. The SUV brushed past Casey and continued further toward the procession.

Casey chased the vehicle on foot as it began to be driven faster, the complaint said, and radioed for assistance. Seconds later, other reports came in over the police radio that people were being hit by the vehicle.

Another officer, identified as Officer Butryn, also tried to get in front of the SUV, yelling at the driver to “Stop, stop the vehicle,” according to the complaint. The officer estimated the vehicle was moving at around 25 miles per hour at the time.

“Officer Butryn observed the driver looking straight ahead, directly at him, and it appeared he had no emotion on his face,” the complaint said.

The SUV passed Butryn, at which point he saw the vehicle increase in speed until it reached an intersection where it appeared to stop, the complaint said.

“The vehicle then appeared to rapidly accelerate, as Officer Butryn heard tires squeal,” the complaint read. “At this point, it was clear to Officer Butryn that this was an intentional act to strike and hurt as many people as possible.”

Butryn saw the vehicle driving in a zig-zag-like pattern, the complaint said, and saw “bodies and objects” flying.

“It was like the SUV was trying to avoid vehicles, not people. There was no attempt made by the vehicle to stop, much less slow down,” one witness told an officer, according to the complaint.

After witnessing the SUV running over people, another officer identified in the complaint as Officer Scholten shot at and struck the vehicle three times as it sped away. Authorities do not believe any shots were fired from the vehicle, Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson said Sunday.

Brooks sought help from a stranger

After Brooks allegedly fled the scene, he asked a stranger for assistance and stated he was homeless, according to a Waukesha resident.

Daniel Rider, 24, told CNN that he was unaware of what had happened Sunday when he heard the doorbell ring at his house.

A man — identified by authorities as Brooks — asked for Rider’s help, saying he was homeless and needed to borrow a phone to call an Uber. Rider said Brooks was not wearing shoes and only wearing a t-shirt on a cold day, so he said he believed him and allowed him into the home.

“He was pretty flustered,” Rider said of Brooks, but described him as polite during their encounter. Rider made Brooks a sandwich and let him borrow a jacket as he used his phone.

After a few minutes, Rider noticed police going up and down the street and had a feeling it was in relation to Brooks, so Rider asked him to step outside. As Brooks spoke on the phone, the two were outside when Rider said a nearby neighbor flagged him to the situation. Rider then went to Brooks and asked for his phone and jacket back, he said, and Brooks complied. Rider entered the home and then locked the door.

Shortly after, Brooks began “pounding on the door,” Rider said, claiming he left his ID inside. Rider refused and told him he would look for it. Moments later, police arrived and arrested Brooks.

Rider said Brooks had called his mother to have an Uber to pick him up. “Uber showed up maybe a minute after he was in custody,” Rider said. “So I just think about sometimes if he’d gotten in that car, what could have happened?”

Brooks’ bail has been set at $5 million following his initial court appearance Tuesday, with the judge citing potential flight risks.

Brooks had been out on bail after allegedly running over a woman who said she’s the mother of his child earlier this month, according to court documents.

6 people have died from injuries

On Monday, authorities identified five of the six people killed as Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.
Another victim was identified Tuesday as Jackson Sparks, 8, according to the family’s verified GoFundMe page. It is not immediately clear if Jackson is the sixth parade death mentioned by prosecutors and confirmed by Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

“This afternoon, our dear Jackson has sadly succumbed to his injuries and passed away,” an update post to the page said Tuesday.

Two of the 16 children admitted to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin were able to go home Monday, the hospital said in a statement. Three more children were sent home Wednesday, the hospital said. A total of 10 children remain hospitalized, with five in critical condition, two in fair condition and three in good condition, the statement said.

One of the injured, a firefighter’s son, has just been moved out of the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Intensive Care Unit, according to his father Don Tiegs.

Erick Tiegs was marching with Waukesha South High School Marching Band when he was struck by the SUV, according to a news release by Caledonia Firefighters Association.

“He has undergone surgery to repair a broken femur. He is still being treated for other injuries, including placement of a chest drainage tube, and is continuing to be assessed for any further complications. Unfortunately, he has a long road to recovery ahead of him,” read the release.

CNN’s Amir Vera, Holly Yan, Raja Razek, Joe Sutton, Jennifer Henderson, Claudia Dominguez and Dave Alsup contributed to this report.

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Wisconsin parade news – latest: Darrell Brooks appears in court as prosecutors announce sixth Waukesha victim

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Darrell Brooks appears in court following Wisconsin parade attack

Darrell Brooks appeared in court today for a preliminary hearing on charges for allegedly killing six people by ramming his car into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday evening.

Prosecutors revealed the death of a sixth victim, a child, during the hearing, where Mr Brooks bail was set at $5m.

The 39-year-old suspected driver, seen wide-eyed in a new mugshot released earlier in the day, was already facing five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, with a sixth expected in light of the newest death. He was allegedly involved in a “domestic dispute” moments prior to driving onto the parade route, and court records show he has an extensive rap sheet dating back to 1999.

Doorbell camera footage captured Mr Brooks waiting for an Uber outside a home roughly 20 minutes after he plowed through the parade. The homeowner said he invited Mr Brooks in for a sandwich before police arrived to arrest him.

At an emotional press conference on Monday, Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson read out the names of those who had died: Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.

The sixth victim was identified on Tuesday as eight-year-old Jackson Sparks, who was critically injured alongside his 12-year-old brother Tucker.

The names of injured victims – many of whom are children – continue to trickle out through online fundraisers seeking help with medical bills.

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The moment before Darrell Brooks was arrested

ICYMI: Darrell Brooks was reportedly filmed by a doorbell camera waiting for an Uber roughly 20 minutes after he drove his SUV into the parade route, killing five and injuring dozens more.

Mr Brooks, who was arrested not long after the footage was captured on Sunday, told the homeowner Daniel Rider: “I called an Uber and I’m supposed to be waiting for it over here, but I don’t know when it’s coming”.

He adds: “Can you call it for me please? I’m homeless.”

Mr Rider, according to NBC News, invited Mr Brooks inside his home, and made a sandwich for the suspect.

“All of a sudden, I look outside my street and I see a few cop cars drive by and I’m getting extra nervous,” Mr Rider said. “Then the next thing you know, you see the cops with lights on him saying, ‘hands in the air, hands in the air.’”

The Independent’s Gino Spocchia reports:

Stuti Mishra24 November 2021 05:19

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$1m raised to help victims’ medical and funeral costs

The tight-knit Waukesha community sprang into action after Sunday’s Christmas parade tragedy which claimed five lives, organising fundraising events, prayer vigils and opening a makeshift resource centre for the victims.

By Tuesday afternoon about $750,000 has been donated to GoFundMe pages set up by friends and family of the victims, while community and business fundraising efforts have collected another $200,000.

With hospital bills piling up, families have been forced to try to raise awareness and money for their loved ones, many of whom are facing months in hospital.

The Independent’s Bevan Hurley reports:

Stuti Mishra24 November 2021 04:05

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Waukesha cops launch fundraiser with stuffed animal K9s

ICYMI: The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department is raising money for victims of the Christmas parade attack by selling stuffed animals dressed like police K9s.

The plushie toys are available for $20 each with 100 per cent of all proceeds going toward the United for Waukesha Community Fund.

Stuti Mishra24 November 2021 03:35

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Darrell Brooks’ new mugshot released

ICYMI: Police released a new mugshot for Darrell Brooks hours before he is set to appear in court.

The photo taken Tuesday morning shows Mr Brooks wide-eyed in a heavy, green jail-issued vest.

Darrell Brooks in a mugshot released Tuesday

(via REUTERS)

Graeme Massie24 November 2021 03:02

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Milwaukee Brewers host fundraisers for parade victims

ICYMI: The Milwaukee Brewers baseball team announced two fundraisers in honour of the Waukesha Christmas parade victims.

The first took place on Tuesday morning, where fans were invited to meet with top members of the team at the Colectivo Coffee shop in Milwaukee. Attendees were encouraged to donate to the Brewers Community Foundation, with the team’s president of baseball operations David Sterns promising to personally match the amount raised.

The second event, “Magic of Lights” is scheduled for 5pm CT on Wednesday. For ever car that attends, host American Family Insurance pledged a $10 donation with a cap of $10,000.

Graeme Massie24 November 2021 02:03

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WATCH: Dancing girl narrowly misses SUV strike

ICYMI: Harrowing video captured the moment a little girl narrowly avoided being struck by the SUV that barrelled down the Waukesha Christmas parade route on Sunday.

The youngster, dressed in pink snow gear, is seen dancing to a marching band a few feet from the sidewalk when the car passes inches behind her.

The crowd erupts in screams of terror as the car continues down the route before striking dozens of people.

The Independent’s Megan Sheets reports:

Graeme Massie24 November 2021 01:06

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Darrell Brooks wears suicide prevention vest to court hearing

Mr Brooks faces life imprisonment if convicted on the five intentional homicide charges he faces, with prosecutors expected to bring a sixth charge following the death of eight-year-old Jackson Sparks.

(AP)

(AP)

Graeme Massie24 November 2021 00:31

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Wisconsin church confirms death of Jackson Sparks

The eight-year-old became the sixth victim of the Wisconsin Christmas parade incident last Sunday.

“Aaron Sparks and Sheri Sparks would like to thank everyone for your prayers and amazing support during this difficult time,” said LifePoint Church in a Facebook post.

“They wanted to give an update to everyone as you are likely aware, Tucker (12) and Jackson ( Sparks were both seriously injured during the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack and have been in the ICU since.

“Tucker, by the grace of God is miraculously recovering from his injuries and will be being discharged home. This afternoon, our dear Jackson has sadly succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

“Please know that they appreciate your continued prayers and tremendous outpouring of support for their family. They do however ask for privacy at this time to allow Tucker to continue to heal physically and their family to heal and mourn the tremendous loss of their sweet little boy who is now under the care of Jesus.”

Graeme Massie24 November 2021 00:01

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DA’s past comments on reforms draw scrutiny

A Wisconsin district attorney acknowledged that his justice reforms could lead to freed criminals killing others more than a decade before a man his office released on bail mowed down dozens of people at a Christmas parade in Waukesha.

John Chisholm began enacting reforms – including the lowering of cash bonds and diverting non-violent offenders to treatment programs – when he was elected as Milwaukee County District Attorney in 2007.

Explaining his efforts to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that same year, Mr Chisholm acknowledged the possibility of adverse consequences.

“Is there going to be an individual I divert, or I put into a treatment program, who’s going to go out and kill somebody? You bet. Guaranteed. It’s guaranteed to happen,” he said.

“It does not invalidate the overall approach.”

Mr Chisholm’s comments were drawn back into the spotlight this week after Darrell Brooks, a felon with a rap sheet dating back to 1999, was accused of killing five people and wounding 48 others by driving his car into Waukesha’s Christmas parade.

The Independent’s Megan Sheets reports:

Megan Sheets23 November 2021 23:10

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Eight-year-old Jackson Sparks confirmed as sixth victim

The sixth victim of the Waukesha parade attack has been confirmed as eight-year-old Jackson Sparks.

A GoFundMe for Jackson’s family confirmed the tragic news on Tuesday evening after prosecutors revealed the sixth death at Darrell Brooks’ court hearing.

Jackson’s brother Tucker, 12, was also seriously injured but is “miraculously recovering” and will be discharged soon, the fundraiser states.

Eight-year-old Jackson Sparks died of injuries sustained in the attack on Tuesday. He is pictured (front) with his brother Tucker, who was also injured

(GoFundMe)

Megan Sheets23 November 2021 22:39

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Waukesha parade news – latest: Police hold press conference after Darrell Brooks’ criminal record revealed

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Watch live as police hold press conference on Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy

The five people killed by a driver who rammed into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday evening have been identified.

Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson read out the names at a press conference on Monday afternoon: Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81. Mr Thompson also confirmed the injury toll had risen from 40 to 48.

The suspected driver, 39-year-old Darrell Brooks, is facing five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, police said. He was allegedly involved in a “domestic dispute” moments prior to driving onto the parade route, and court records show he has an extensive rap sheet dating back to 1999.

Video from the tragedy showed a red SUV barrelling at high speed into band members and cheerleaders marching in close formation, striking multiple people and scattering the crowd.

Witnesses described the “horrifying” incident and said the “calm” driver was “going from side to side, targeting people”.

Children’s Wisconsin, a paediatric hospital in Milwaukee, confirmed it treated 18 minor victims, ranging in age from three to 16 years old. Six of the child victims required surgery and 10 remained in the intensive care unit as of midday Monday.

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Wisconsin parade-crash suspect was in a domestic disturbance, says police chief

The suspect who plowed his SUV into a Christmas parade in Waukesha was leaving the scene of a domestic dispute that had taken place just minutes earlier, the city police chief said on Monday.

The man identified as 39-year-old Darrell Brooks had a long history of criminal activities and has been charged with crimes 16 times since 1999.

However, police chief Dan Thompson earlier said there was no evidence the bloodshed on Sunday was a terrorist attack or that the suspect knew anyone in the parade.

He added that the suspect acted alone.

Brooks left the site of the domestic disturbance before officers arrived, and was not being chased by police at the time of the crash, according to the chief quoted by Associated Press, who gave no further details on the dispute.

Police said they were drawing up five charges of intentional homicide against Brooks.

On Sunday, the SUV that went on to kill people gathered for a joyous Christmas parade left 5 dead and over 40 injured. The victims were women aged between 52 to 79 and an 81-year-old man.

Additional reporting by AP

Stuti Mishra23 November 2021 06:53

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Crowd grows at candle light vigil in Waukesha

The number of people attending the candlelight vigil in Waukesha increased later on Monday night amid freezing temperatures.

Video footage of the late-night vigil showed mourners gathered to honour the dead after an SUV ploughed into the Christmas parade, killing at least five people and injuring 40 more.

Stuti Mishra23 November 2021 06:10

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Watch: Father reveals how he pushed daughter out of harm’s way at final moment

“I noticed him coming through the crowd and I noticed something was not right, and then I seen kind of like just people flying as I stood up,”, Mr Kluka Jr told TODAY. “I’m like ‘Oh no.’ My daughter stood up, I threw her out of the way, then I basically yelled, ‘Get out of the way,’ and my wife got out of the way”.

Watch the full video with Independent TV.

Waukesha parade watcher says he pushed daughter out of harms way

Stuti Mishra23 November 2021 04:30

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‘Dancing Grannies’ Facebook group devastated after the attack

Multiple members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies were among the five killed in the Waukesha Christmas parade attack.

The members were Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, and Tamara Durand, 52. Wilhelm Hospel, 81 was also closely associated with the group.

The dance group, in a Facebook post after the incident, said it is “devastated” and those who died were “extremely passionate Grannies”.

“The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies are devastated by this terrible tragedy with of loss of life and injuries in the Waukesha Christmas parade,” the group wrote.

“Our group was doing what they loved, performing in front of crowds in a parade putting smiles on faces of all ages, filling them with joy and happiness. While performing the grannies enjoyed hearing the crowds cheers and applause which certainly brought smiles to their faces and warmed their hearts,” it added.

“Those who died were extremely passionate Grannies. Their eyes gleamed…..joy of being a Grannie. They were the glue….held us together. Our hearts are heavy at this most difficult time, as more information and updates become available it will be posted.”

“Please keep them their families, friends, the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies and everyone who lives have forever changed in your thoughts and prayers.”

The Dancing Grannies describes itself on Facebook as a “group of grannies that meet once a week to practice routines for summer and winter parades.” They have been performing in parades since 1984.

Read more about the victims:

Stuti Mishra23 November 2021 03:56

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What happened at the Wisconsin Christmas parade?

The red Ford Escape SUV was captured on video driving straight towards marching cheerleaders and band members at around 40mph, hitting around 20 people and causing the crowd that had assembled to enjoy the 58th Annual Waukesha Holiday Parade to disperse in panic.

Witnesses to the atrocity on Sunday described the car as having accelerated along the parade route and “going from side to side, targeting people”.

The Independent’s Joe Sommerlad writes what happened next.

Justin Vallejo23 November 2021 03:00

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Everything we know about suspect Darrell Brooks

Darrell Edward Brooks, 39, was taken into custody on Sunday night shortly after a red Ford Escape SUV drove into a the parade in the Wisconsin city, killing five and injuring 48 people, including 18 children aged 3 to 16.

According to criminal record searches, Mr Brooks was a longtime felon whose offending dated back to 1999. He has convictions for drug and firearm possession, strangulation, battery and resisting arrest, has been sentenced to two prison terms, and spent years on probation and under court supervision.

The Independent’s Bevan Hurley has the full background.

Justin Vallejo23 November 2021 02:00

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Grandmother recalls horror of Waukesha attack

Tricia Tucker, 52, saw the whole disaster unfold. She chokes up as she talks to The Independent’s Shelia Flynn describing “literally grabbing kids by their jackets, throwing them into my building – because the doors, when they close, they lock”.

“I’m screaming for everybody who can hear me to run into my place,” she says – as she ran outside to find her youngest daughter, 18, who was home from boarding school for the holidays.”

Justin Vallejo23 November 2021 01:00

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Candlelight vigil held for victims

Hundreds of people are gathering in Cutler Park to remember the victims of suspected attacker Darrell Brooks, who is alleged to have ploughed through a Christmas parade on Sunday.

Five were killed and more than 40 more injured.

Justin Vallejo23 November 2021 00:06

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How a ‘Norman Rockwell-type’ Christmas parade turned into ‘senseless tragedy’

Officials in Waukesha, Wisconsin, said the parade, a “Norman Rockwell-type event” that the city had proudly hosted for decades for both residents and visitors, was part of its very fabric, writes The Independent’s Andrew Buncombe.

“With the state, and the nation, already on edge over the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, a proceeding that appears to have divided the nation, some commentators expressed a small degree of relief when police in Waukesha, 50 miles northwest of Kenosha, said they were not treating Sunday’s incident as terrorism.”

Justin Vallejo22 November 2021 23:50

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Brooks skipped bail on sex offender charge after impregnating 15-year-old: Reports

Darrell Brooks was wanted in Nevada for failing to obey sex offender laws, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox News.

Brooks was convicted of having consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl and conceiving a child in 2006. He was arrested in 2016 for violating the terms of his probation but he never appeared in court, Fox News reported.

Justin Vallejo22 November 2021 22:53

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